Creating a stunning landscape around your swimming pool enhances the overall aesthetics and enjoyment of your outdoor space, and can help you create an immersive swimming experience. Want to feel like you’re at a water park? Or maybe your own private island? This can all be achieved through landscaping.
In this article, the Memphis Pool team will cover some landscaping tips to keep in mind before you make any big changes to your pool space.
What to put around your swimming pool
- Beautiful plants: Introduce beautiful plants and palms to create a resort-like atmosphere. These not only provide shade but also contribute to the poolside oasis feel.
- Paving and decking: Choose durable and non-slip materials for poolside paving and decking. Natural stone, concrete pavers, or composite decking are excellent choices for a stylish and practical surface.
- Outdoor furniture: Invest in comfortable and weather-resistant outdoor furniture. Sun loungers, umbrellas, and seating areas create a relaxing space for family and friends.
- Water features: Incorporate water features like fountains or waterfalls for added visual appeal. The sound of trickling water adds a calming ambiance to your pool area too, which is always a bonus.
- Lighting: Install outdoor lighting to extend pool use into the evening. String lights, pathway lighting, and underwater LED lights create a magical atmosphere.
What not to put around your swimming pool
- Thorny plants: Steer clear of plants with thorns or spiky leaves to prevent injuries. Opt for softer, safer plants to keep everyone smiling.
- Messy trees: Avoid trees that shed leaves, flowers, or seeds excessively. While trees provide shade, constantly cleaning the pool from debris can become tedious.
- Slippery surfaces: Look for non-slip materials for poolside surfaces. Smooth tiles or surfaces can become dangerous, especially when wet.
- Invasive plants: Be cautious of invasive plants that can spread rapidly and disrupt the balance of your landscaping. Research plants that are well-behaved and will live in harmony with the rest.
Our top tips for pool landscaping
- Create zones: Try designating areas for lounging, dining, and sunbathing. This helps organize the space and ensures that each part of your pool area serves a specific purpose.
- Add shade: Introduce things like pergolas, umbrellas, or strategically placed trees to provide relief from the sun during hot summer days. This is important everywhere, but especially here in Memphis!
- Poolside planters: Use decorative planters to add bursts of color and greenery around the pool. Container plants can be easily rearranged to refresh the landscape, depending on your mood and the seasons.
- Choose Pool-friendly plants: Select plants that thrive in a poolside environment, because not all plants like being splashed by chlorinated water.
Enhance your outdoor entertaining area
A well-landscaped pool area is a huge contribution to your outdoor entertaining space, but there’s still more you can do to improve it! Here are some extra ideas to elevate your poolside gatherings:
- Outdoor kitchen: Consider installing an outdoor kitchen area near the pool for outdoor dining and entertaining on warm summer evenings.
- Fire pit or fireplace: Enhance the atmosphere by adding a fire pit or fireplace. This creates a cozy atmosphere for evening gatherings and means your outdoor space will be usable into cooler seasons.
- Bar area: Install a poolside bar area for a touch of luxury and fun. Complete with a counter, bar stools, and perhaps a small fridge, this can help with adding a resort-like feel to your poolscape.
Need some help with your pool landscaping? Memphis Pool can help. We’re an award-winning gunite pool builder serving the Mid-South, bringing creativity and knowledge to every project we take on. Contact us today, we’d love to hear from you.
